What is the Digital Tool on SDGs and Migration?

It is an online instrument developed by the University of Bologna – Alma Mater Studiorum (Department of Social and Political Science – Forli Campus) in coordination with the Emilia Romagna Region under the auspices of the EU-funded Shaping Fair Cities (SFC) project. This website works as a dynamic platform that collects local and national resources, within and beyond Europe. Whereas the overall aim of the SFC project is to promote the local implementation of targeted SDGs (on climate change: SDG 13, Fair and Sustainable Cities: SDG 11, Fair Societies and Justice: SDG 16, and gender equality: SDG 5) together with adequate migration policies, the main goal of the Digital Tool is to give local migrant communities an overview of all the services and opportunities offered by the territory that they live in offer, in terms of employment, education, linguistic courses, reception centres, linguistic and legal assistance, childcare and women empowerment, among others.

In doing so, the Digital Tool aims to leave no one behind at local level, while promoting resilient and peaceful societies.

By illustrating the content of most relevant migration and asylum law provisions at the international, EU, national (and local, where applicable) levels, it also represents a helpful tool for migrant organisers, social workers, and legal practitioners.

The Home section highlights the most recent news pertaining to SDGs and Migration, for instance, by underlining the strict nexus between migration and sustainable development. The Project and Partners sections focus on the description of the SFC project; its origin; goals; and partners located in EU and extra-EU countries. This project is building a bridge among citizens and local authorities in the two hemispheres in line with SDG 17 (enhance global partnership). In giving space to partners’ local projects, services and opportunities for local migrant communities in the Activities section, the Digital Tool aims to reveal migrants’ potential as agents of sustainable development, as well as opportunities for multiculturalism in a tolerant and equal environment. The tangible results of these initiatives are adequately outlined in the specific Results section.